The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-01

Sundt were named for the committee.
The postoffice matter was again dis
cussed, the committee reporting that the
city was entitled to the free delivery
system. it was also reported that the
government could terminate ITS lease Of
the present site of the Office at any time,
and it was hoped TO soon secure better
postal facilities for the city,.
w. R. Geddes was instructed 10 Sc
cure a man in each ward to stay at the
polls next Tuesday, in theinterest Of the
school house bonds.
The committee appointed to take ac-
ton on the railroad matter, have issued
the following address:
To THE CITIZENS OF MANKATo.
The undersigned committee Of ten ap-
pointed by the Board of Trade Of this
city concerning the vacation of certain
parts of streets between Maple street, in
the rear of the Fiber works and the
river, for railroad purposes, beg leave in
this public manner to present the matter
as 1t appears to them, addressing them
selves respectfully both to the Honor
Mankato generally,
1.-THE reader will look on the map of
the city in the region indicated, and
note the vacant blocks Nos. 1873, 139, l40,
l4l, las, l49 and $50 and the parcels of
Oak, Rock, Elm and Vine streets and
Madison avenue included between them,
q good idea can be had Of the land and
how the vacation asked for affects the
same. The railroad company have pur-
chased substantially the South half Of
1873, l39 and 40 and all of l4l. Their
| line of road comes in across the south
east corner of l4S, runs in a Southwestern
I " direction across blocks l4l, 140, l39
1873, terminating at the river at the foot
of Maple street.
They have commenced work and
planned work upon these lands that re-
duire the expenditure of large amount
OF money, and indeed the lands them
selves are such that in order 10 be used
for any purpose requires first large out
lay of money. They are low, boggy, am
passible, and regardless Of streets and
alleys have been dug over for years for
the making Of brick, 80 that before they
can be used for railroad or any other
purposes, they will have to be filed and
substantially made. This work the COM
phuy uhS DCch w.
l. Your committee would like to see
grounds obtained for this company
further up toward the center of the city,
but are informed that all attempts at this
have resulted in failure, and that such
demands are made for property, right of
way, etc, as render it impracticable at
the present time, at least. We are in
formed that when negotiations were be-
ing made on the part of the road for
right of way and depot grounds to be
furnished by the city and when the road
took this task upon itself because il was
going to cost the city more than we
could pay, that the city officials assured
the road that they would give 1t all the
assistance they could and do anything
the CITY could do to render them assist
ance in obtaining right of way and de-
pot grounds, and that these very grounds
and the vacation of these streets were
then in the minds of the parties.
These grounds cannot be utilized for
depot grounds, side tracks, warehouses,
round house, etc, if they are cut up by
these so-called streets; that is plain TO
any person. We suggest that the streets
and alleys are not property to be bought
and sold by q municipal corporation.
They are but easements for the benefit
of the adjacent property holders and the
public generally for the purposes of
travel, the title in fee remaining in the
adjacent property holders and when the
streets are vacated possession Teverts TO
such adjacent owners.
We are informed that substantially all
the land in controversy is owned by the
railroad company and one other person,
and that all that other person needs or
requires or asks ID means of access to
his lands which are low bog lands,-if
of any value, only for the purposes OF
taking earth for matchmaking, and that
the company in its requests for vacation
left out the best and most available
street for that purpose, although much
needed TO the proper use Of their
grounds.
1t might be supposed that the public
had some use for these imaginary streets,
but if any citizen will take the trouble to
look at the grounds themselves, he will
see the utter folly of retaining these
streets, 80 far as any good to the public
or anyone else is concerned. The whole
ground is substantially worthless and it
occurs 10 the committee that these
streets should be freely vacated for the
purpose OF having the grounds improved
and made useful, and We are at q loss to
development Uf the city, and particular
ly, the lower part of the city, can raise
any valid objection 10 the vacation asked
for by the road.
AS city we have been for long time
anxious about this road, desiring an
other Independent line with the hope
of better freight and traffic rates, and
have for many years been doing all in
our power to center the railroads upon
the river, and why now this opposition
is raised to giving, not the land, but,
simply giving up the public easement in
streets through which there is not even
q cow path and which a Rocky Noun
tain goat could scarcely traverse, we
cannot understand.
The railroad, with the view of making
this their main line, have spent theus-
ands Of dollars in making o circHitous
route to come into the city upon this
grade and should they extend their
line, will, in all probability, cross the
river at or near the termination Of Elm
street, should they not hereafter be able
to come further up into the city.
We call attention TO the experience Of
the past. The city refused to make va
CATIONS for the Winona road when they
would have given us good depot, and
finally, while they have spent q good
deal Of money and labor on their
grounds, we have far short Of what we
had reason TO expect had the vacation
they asked for been given at the proper
time and not grudgingly.
The Board of Trade and its committees
are not officials; they are simply bust
ness men who spend both time and
money to build up the city and they
wish to act with the council as their con-
stituents in urging forward projects for
the good OF the city that we may have
what our resources entitle US to--a pros
IL Is our firm hope that the city council
will reconsider their action in this re-
gard and make the vacations asked for.